How to Generate a Progressive Web App (PWA) for Your Website
A Progressive Web App (PWA) makes your website installable like a native app on mobile and desktop. It adds offline support, a home screen icon, splash screens, and better engagement. With PWA Maker, you can create a full PWA package instantly — no coding required.
Step 1: Enter Your Website URL
Start by pasting your website URL (e.g., https://example.com
) into the tool. The generator will automatically detect your site’s domain and prefill app details like App Name and Short Name.
Step 2: Customize App Details
- App Name: The full name of your app (shown in install prompts).
- Short Name: A shorter version, used on home screens.
- Start URL & Scope: Defines which part of your site opens inside the app.
- Display Mode: Choose between
standalone
,fullscreen
,minimal-ui
, orbrowser
. - Theme & Background Colors: Customize splash screens and browser bar colors.
- Description: A short summary of your PWA.
Step 3: Upload or Generate App Icons
You can either:
- Upload your own PNG/JPG/WebP icon – the tool will resize it into all required sizes (72×72, 192×192, 512×512, etc.).
- Use auto-generated icons – initials from your domain with customizable theme color.
All icons, including maskable icons for modern Android devices, are included in your package.
Step 4: Configure Service Worker
Your PWA will include a service-worker.js
for offline support and caching. You can choose between:
- Precache + Runtime Cache: Best option, caches key assets and pages.
- Offline Fallback: Adds an
offline.html
page when no connection is available. - Minimal: Basic install without caching logic.
You can also specify precache URLs like /, /offline.html
.
Step 5: Download the ZIP
Click Download ZIP to get your PWA package. Inside you’ll find:
manifest.webmanifest
– app details and icons.service-worker.js
– offline & caching logic.icons/
– all generated app icons.offline.html
– fallback offline page.index.html
– a starter PWA shell page.README.txt
– instructions for setup.
Step 6: Add to Your Website
To integrate the PWA into your site:
<link rel="manifest" href="/manifest.webmanifest">
<meta name="theme-color" content="#4f46e5">
<script>
if ('serviceWorker' in navigator) {
navigator.serviceWorker.register('/service-worker.js');
}
</script>
Step 7: Test & Install
After uploading your files to your HTTPS server:
- Open Chrome or Edge and visit your site.
- Go to DevTools → Application → Manifest to check PWA status.
- You should see an Install App prompt.
Example
If you run PWA Maker
for https://example.com, you’ll get:
- App Name: Example
- Short Name: Ex
- Start URL:
/
- Icons: Auto-generated initials “EX” with theme color
- Service Worker: Precache strategy
Uploading the files to your server makes https://example.com installable on Android and desktop.
Conclusion
With PWA Maker, turning any website into a Progressive Web App takes just minutes. Customize your app’s look, add offline support, and generate a complete ZIP package ready to deploy. This makes your site faster, more reliable, and installable across devices.